Method for the surveillance for biological, chemical and radiological agents
AssigneeNew York University
InventorsPage W. Caufield, Deepak Saxena, Michael C. Alfano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided is a method of surveillance for hazardous materials, e.g., chemical, biological and radiological agents. The method comprises assaying a sample derived from materials collected from a sample domain for the presence of a chemical, biological, or radiological agent. The sample domain comprises at least one collection point from which the materials are collected in a pre-existing operation unrelated to surveillance.
Claims8
1-3. (canceled)
A method of surveillance for the presence of a chemical, biological, or radiological agent, which method comprises:
- assaying a sample derived from street debris materials collected from a sample domain for the presence of a chemical, biological, or radiological agent,
- comprising the steps of:
- (a) treating the sample to reduce the concentration of bacteria that are preferentially bioencapsulated by Tetrahymena pyriformis relative to the bioencapsulation of Bacillus anthracis;
- (b) introducing Tetrahymena pyriformis to the sample, and
- (c) assaying for Bacillus anthracis;
- wherein the sample domain is a route undertaken by a street sweeper machine through a city street and comprises at least one collection point from which the materials are collected from a city street in a pre-existing operation, otherwise unrelated to surveillance.
5-19. (canceled)
A method of surveillance for the presence of a chemical, biological, or radiological agent, which method comprises:
- (a) treating a sample derived from street debris materials collected from a sample domain to reduce the concentration of bacteria that are preferentially bioencapsulated by Tetrahymena pyriformis relative to the bioencapsulation of Bacillus thuringiensis;
- and
- (b) assaying the sample for the presence of a chemical, biological, or radiological agent,
- wherein the sample domain is a route undertaken by a street sweeper machine through a city street and comprises at least one collection point from which the materials are collected from a city street in a pre-existing operation, otherwise unrelated to surveillance, wherein the sample is assayed for Bacillus thuringiensis.
21-43. (canceled)
A method of detecting the presence of a chemical, biological, or radiological agent which comprises:
- (a) obtaining at least one sample from a collection of street debris that has been exposed to the environment and is collected from a street sweeper machine that follows a pre-defined, traceable route unrelated to surveillance and continuously collects the street debris from an open environment along the pre-defined route;
- (b) assaying the sample for the presence of a Bacillus spore within the sample comprising introducing Tetrahymena pyriformis to the sample, and assaying the sample for the presence of a Bacillus spore;
- (c) determining a result based on the assay;
- and
- (d) reporting the result.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.